Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-17
STAGE MORALS SOUND.
Tho Chorus Girl Defended by Lady Who
Knows Her Well.

Tho Chorus Girl Defended by Lady Who
Knows Her Well.
Articles on the ebb-tide of stage moral
ity, written by New York reporters, have
been universally condemned by theatrical
people IS malicious and false. Miss
Louise Paullln oflthe McCaull Opera Com
pany was most eloquent In her defense OF
the purity of the stage, especially among
the chorus people. She said: "During
my young lady life l had social advant-
ages in the west which enabled me to see
and study all phases of fashionable life.
When revers6s Of fortune came l adopted
the stage as means Of livelihood, and [
must say that if there is any difference in
the moral tone of the green-room and
drawing-rOOm it is in favor Of the former.
"The life OF the stars, both in the
musical and dramatic armament, is an
open book to the public, but the condem-
natiOn Of the ChoFuses is malicious and
unjust. You may be little astonished
to know that very large per cent. of re-
cruits come from fashionable life-girls
who have their private income, whe are
tired Of society, with its aimless, petty
obligations, and who really desire to do
or oe something IN the world. Their
lives are without method and duty, and
they drift from the vocal or elocution
classes into dramatic clubs, and from the
miniature stage to the legitimate. They
are ambitious TO rise above mediocri5y,
and the sacred devotion to study and the
reputation of the families to which they
belong would suffice to keep them good
and true, il Sheir own esteem did not.
These girls get SIS or more per week, land
ere abe, with their regular allowance to
dress well and live better thsn their fell
low workers, which fact doubtless gives
rise to some ugly suspicious, outside of
the company only.
"These observations l am drawing from
the McCaulI companies, and can verify
them il necessary. Take this company
now in town for instance. One chorus
girl taught school q few years and gave
up the work at her physicians advice;
another holds medical graduates Ger
tlfcate. She tried the healing art, but
the obstacles were so numerous and cir
cumstances so urgent that she was forced
almost to the stsge for bread and butter.
Another girl is heiress to fortune of
$4,000 or more, but works along on q
salary as assiduously and modestly as
though she had nothing but the profess
sion in prospect. There are few low
grade girls in the chorus, judging from
the sweet simplicity of their lives ana the
skill with which they fashion their clothes
and keep themselves.
"Kuowing, as do, the amount of Ia
boriOus work required of all the PROBES
siou-chorus girls in PARTICULAR am
very reluctant in thinking III of them
There is d rehearsal from L to l, and
often another from 2 TO 5. The remain
ing hours are barely sufficient to dine and
dress in before the evening performance,
and great expedition is necessary to get
home before midnight The sewing,
mend1ng and exercise must be snatched
from time, AMI unless she denies herself
the necessary hours of sleep there is real
ly no leisure for shopping and personal
culture, while visiting is absolutely i'm
possible, excepting Sunday.
"These girls average $l3 week, and
if they save anything stringent economy
is necessary. It is almost impossible for
them TO live on less than $40 week, but
all succeed better than the American born
girl. She wants the rest and comfort that
comes from private apartment, even if
il costs little more, and is inclined to
think that chapsrone would hurt her
sense Of independence. She shares her
quarters with girl of Congenisl taste,
and you may believe that their conduct IS
ell that It should be, for the people who
keep the boarding house would not toll
crate any breach Whstever.
"If q girl does make misstep her error
very soOn becomes an open secret and
she is stunned by everybody, men as well
as women. l need not tell you how hot,
or rather frigid, womsn can make it
for woman when she goes about it, and
the men are even more severe. They let
her carry her own satchel, and at the Sta
ton when the windows ere full of heads,
hands aud dimes yearning for nice sand
Wiches and hot coffee they are too busy
to look after her purchase.
"JeWelry? Yes, that Is the key to so
many cruel aspers1ons. Nearly every girl
on the stage has diamond or two, but it
is bought as an investment by nine-tenths
of the people. Indeed, their purchase is
something Of a proverb Everybody saves
up to buy diamond, and St. Louis is the
great market. The stone Is always sala-
bic, and can be disposed of at very
slight loss any time. Besides being
sure investment it very often comes in
timely as stSge ornament.
"IHtemperance? No, nothing like as
much IS exists in club and parlor life.
Health, youth and good looks are their
capital, and every singer and actor
knows, az ne knows nothing better, that
their price is temperaNce and repose.
"The ballet? l won't permit a word
against it. Il is made up of women who
are as good as gold. And oh! how Mey
% work, day and night, for mere SIS pr
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